Pressure applicator



March 13, 1956 w, M 2,738,228

PRESSURE APPLICATOR Filed May 28. 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.VV/LLl/IM MA CK.

HTT'ORNE).

iUnited States Patent PRESSURE APPLICATOR William Mack, Hartford, Conn.,assignor to Frank E.

Wolcott, West Hartford, Conn.

Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,232

18 Claims. (Cl. 299-95) This invention relates to an improvementin apressure applicator of the type fully described in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 380,213, filed September 15, 1953, and nowabandoned, and is intended for applying pressure to containers, such asbottles, cans and the like, and thereby causing the material containedtherein to be forced through a suitable dispensing nozzle.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improvedconstruction for such pressure applicators whereby a pressure bulb maybe readily attached to a closure cap of a container and pierced as thesaid ca is screwed down'upon the container.

A further object is the provision of such a device in which a dispensingvalve is contained within the closure cap and the pressure bulb ispositioned within the container so that it is protected against beingdisplaced while in use in said container.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedmechanism which is highly efficient in its operation, easy to operateand which may be produced by mass production methods in a highlyeconomical manner.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearlyunderstood from the following description and from the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is an enlarged plan view of a pressure applicator embodying thepresent invention and shows the same attached to a liquid container.

Fig. 2 is a side view of said applicator and container in centralvertical section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the applicator on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the carrier member showing the detachableconnection for the pressure bulb. V

Fig. 5 is a side view of my improved pressure applicator, partly incentral vertical section and showing the normal position of the partsbefore said applicator is attached to the container.

Fig. 6 is a sectional side view of a portion of the carrier memberillustrating the construction of the pressure bulb receptacle.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the upper portion of the pressure bulb.

Fig. 8 is a front view of said upper portion of the pressure bulb.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the dispensing nozzle with the sprayer memberremoved therefrom.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the sprayer disk.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved pressure applicatorpreferably includes a base 5 that is in the form of a closure cap andthereby renders the said applicator adaptable to containers of varioustypes having a standard neck portion which will properly fit the saidcap. Such containers may include a body 6 with a threaded neck portion 7that projects from the top of the container and is provided with asuitable seat 8 surrounding the mouth of the container at the end ofsaid neck portion. As .shown, the said seat 8 is preferably provided bya rolled edge forming an annular bead along the edge of the containermouth.

The base 5 has a top portion 9 and an annular skirt 10 dependingtherefrom and forming an inverted recess 11. Said base or closure cap ispreferably constructed of a molded plastic material and has, along thelower edge of the skirt 10, an outwardly extending flange 12.

A threaded liner 13 .is contained within said cap and has a radialflange 14 along the lower edge thereof which underlies the skirt 10 andis formed over the flange 12 so as to secure said liner to the closurecap. The upper end of the liner has a radially extending flange 15 whichis provided to retain the parts of my improved applicator as will behereinafter more fully described.

Between the bottom of the inverted recess 11 and the flange 15, there iscontained within said recess a carrier member 16 that is preferably inthe form of a plate or disk, and a pair of annular washers 17 and 18that are disposed above and below the said carrier member 16; the washer17 being located between the said carrier member and the bottom of therecess 11, while the washer 18 is located between said carrier and thesealing bead 8.

The carrier member 16 is preferably formed to provide an annular sealingrib 19 which is adapted to impress the washer 17 so as to insure a leakproof sealing contact between the said carrier member and the closurecap.

The bead 8 is also adapted to impress the washer 18 so as to provide aleak proof contact between the said bead and the carrier member.

The said carrier member 16 is normally movable vertically within theclosure cap but it is prevented from rotating relatively to said cap bymeans of a tab 20 which projects therefrom and slidably fits within avertical groove 21 in the inner surface of the skirt 10, which groove ispreferably contained within a thickened portion of the closure cap thatis provided by a boss 22, on the exterior of said cap, having a sideportion 23 on the skirt 10 and a top portion 24 on the top of the cap.

The carrier member 16 is also provided with a receptacle 25 forcontaining a pressure bulb. The said receptacle preferably includes arecess 26 which is formed downwardly in the carrier member and has abottom 27 with an elongated opening 28 therein having opposed downwardlyextending notches 29 in the opposite sides of the said opening.

As shown in the drawings, the pressure bulb 30 .is of a conventionaltype which may contain such commonly known highly compressible mediumsas CO2, nitrous oxide or Freon. The said pressure bulb has a'reducedneck portion 31 forming the mouth of said bulb in which there ispreferably inserted a sealing cap 32 having, in the bottom thereof, asealing diaphragm 33 which may be easily pierced by a suitable pointedmember such as will be hereinafter described. The said cap has a flangewhich is adapted to fit through the opening 28 and is preferablyelongated to provide oppositely extending projections 34-34 havingdownwardly extending bosses 35-35 which fit into the notches 2929.

As shown clearly in Fig. 2, a spear 36 is mounted in the bottom of therecess 11 and extends downwardly into the receptacle 25 in the carrier16. The said spear has a point 37 thereon adapted to pierce thediaphragm 33 of the pressure bulb 30 and is of a length which, as shownin Fig. 5, will normally position the piercing point 37 above thediaphragm 33. a

In order to prevent unintentional piercing of the diaphragm 33, after apressure bulb has been attached to the said pressure applicator andbefore the applicator .is attached to a container such as shown, thereis provided a washer 38 which engages the top of the cap 32. and-aretaining spring 39 that is contained between the bottom of the recess11 and the said washer 38 for resiliently foreing the pressure bulbdownwardly and the bosses -35 into locking engagement with the notches2929 to thereby securely retain the bulb in attached position and .toprevent rotation of the bulb so that it will retain its connection withthe carrier member.

My improved pressure applicator also includes a dispensing valve whichis preferably constructed of a cup shaped casing that is containedwithin a recess 41, in the-top of the boss-22, and extends downwardlythrough the top 9 of the closure cap and through a hole 41-a in thecarrier disk and has a flange 42 which rests upon the bottom of the saidrecess 41 as shown. The casing maybe connected to the closure cap byinserting it during the .molding operation or it may be forced tightlyinto an appropriate opening in the top of the cap to provide a'leakproof seal between the casing and the closure cap.

The said casing has an axialrecess therein forming a valve chamber 43 inWhich there is slidably contained a valve stem 44 having a lower portion45 of reduced diameter, an enlarged middle portion 46 which is slidablewithin the recess 43 and an upper portion 47.

This upper portion is bored to provide an axial passage48 in said valvestem which has ports 49 at the lower end thereof that extend therefromto the exterior of the portion47 of said stem.

The said valve stem is forced upwardly by means of a-spring 50 and apacking ring 51 surrounds said valve stem to seal the chamber 43. Thispacking ring is secured to the valve casing 40 as shown and covers theports 49 when the valve stem is in its normal position.

A dispensing nozzle 52 is secured to the top of the valve stem portion47 and provides a thumb engageable push button for operating thedispensing valve as will be hereinafter described.

'The said nozzle, as shown, has a discharge passage 53 whichcommunicates with the passage 48 and the valve stem. A recess 54 isformed in the front of the nozzle 52and this recess provides a frontwall 55 in which there is provided an annular groove 56 thatcommunicates withthe discharge passage 53.

A spraying disk 57 is fitted into the recess 54 and against the wall 55as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The said disk has a recess in its innersurface, an orifice 59 which extends through said disk from the-bottomof said recess and a series of spiral grooves 60 that communicate withthe recess 58 and with the groove 56 when the disk is in the positionshown in Fig. 2, for conducting fluid from the grove 56 to the orifice59. i

.As shown, a suitable tube 61 is attached to the bottom of-the valvecasing and extends .to apoint adjacent the bottom of the container so asto conduct the fluid in the container to the dispensing valve whenpressure is provided in the container above the fluid level.

The container 6 is supplied with a suitable closure cover that isscrewed onto the neck 7 to seal the container until the pressureapplicator is attached thereto.

The operation of myimproved pressure applicator is as follows.

When it is desired to pressurize the container, a pressure bulb 30 isfirst inserted into the opening 28, against me force of the spring 39,and then rotated until the said pressure bulb is in the position shownin Figs. 4 and 5, wherein the .bosses 3535 are forced into engagementwith the notches 2929. The cap onthe container is then removed and thecap 5 of my improved applicator is attached to the container byinserting the pressure bulb and the tube 61 into the containerandscrewing the base 5 down onto the neck of the container. As the capmoves down, the washer 18 will engage the head 8 of the container neckand the said washer will move upwardly with the carrier plate 16 andtherebycarry the washer 17 into engagement with the bottom of the recessll and seal the c'o ntainer. Further downward movement of the cap uponthe neck of the container will tend to squeeze the washers 17 and 18 andcarry the carrier plate further towards the bottom of the recess. Thiswill cause the diaphragm 33 to be carried up onto the point 37 "of thepiercing pin 36 and the said pin will then pierce the diaphragm andcause the pressure to pass out of said bulb. The said pressure will thenpass through the openings 28 and the hole 41-a, enter into the containerand fill the space above the contents thereof and thereby pressurize thecontainer for the discharge of its contents.

It will be noted that the annular rib 19 on the carrier disk will imbeditself into the washer 17 and thereby p ermit further movement of thecarrier plate after the said washer has been engaged by the rib. Suchincreased movement is highly desirable for the rea's'ontha't it permitsgreater movement of the point 37 relatively to the diaphragm 33 andthereby ensures sealing operation of the Washers 17 and 18 before thesaid diaphragm is pierced and the pressure is allowed to escape from thepressure bulb.

it will also be noted that the spring 39 will operate to force thebosses 3535 into locking engagement with the notches 29 when the partsare in their normal .position, as shown in Fig. 5, and to retain thesaid locking engagement and permit vertical movement of the carrierplate to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The said spring 39 is provided with diverging-leg portions 39-a whichwill straddle the casing 40 inthe dispensing valve and thereby retainthe said spring against rotation about the piercing pin 36 as thepressure bulb is rotated to bring it into locking position.

When a container has been pressurized in the manner above described, theliquid contents of the said container may be dispensed at will by simplyaimingthenozzle 52 and forcing it downwardly with the thumb. This willcause the valve stem 44 to move downwardly against the tension of thespring 50 and thereby carry the ports 49 below the packing ring 51. Theliquid in the container, which is then under pressure, will beforcedupwardlyin the tube 61 and into the chamber 43 where it willpass throughthe ports 49 and the passage 48 into the passage 53. From there, thesaid liquid material will enter the annular groove 56 and pass into thespiral grooves 60 whereby it will be centered into the recess 58 andthen forced through the orifice 59. Forcing the liquid .material throughthe said spiral grooves into ,the recess 58 will cause it to whirl andbecome atomized and the degree of atomization may be varied by modifyingthe said grooves 60. If desired, other types of disksmaybe used, inplace of the spraying disk 57,.so as to dispense the material indifferent types of jets such as a spray, an atomizer, or a solid jet.

It will be. understood fromthe above describptionthat my improvedpressure applicator provides a device in which a pressure bulb may bemounted in asealed condition and then pierced as the said applicatorisattached to a container and after the container has .become.sealed bysaid device so that no pressure from the said-bulb will escape duringthe attachment of the device to the container.

My improved pressure applicator provides an efficient device in whichthe control, or dispensing, valve'is carried by the device and therebyrenders the said device a complete unit which includes the closure capfor .thecontainer, the pressure bulb and the dispensing valve as abovedescribed.

I claim:

1. A pressure applicator for a container having a neck portion and anopen mouth, the said applicator including a closure cap adapted to besecured tosaid neck portion for sealing the mouth, a carrier membermovable in said closure cap, sealing means between said carrier memberand container neck for sealing thefsaid mouth, a receptacle in saidcarrier member for 'a' pre'ssure bulb, means in said receptacle forretaining the'pi'es'sure in position therein, a spring member "for"urging the pressure bulb into engagement with the said retaiuihg means,a piercing point projecting downwardly into said receptacle, the saidcarrier member being movable upwardly in the closure member to carry thepressure bulb into contact with the said piercing point and therebycause discharge of the pressure therein into the container, a controlvalve carried by said closure cap, and means on said cap for operatingthe valve.

2. A pressure applicator for a container having a neck portion and anopen mouth, the said applicator including a closure cap engageable withthe said neck portion of the container, a carrier member movable in saidclosure member, a sealing washer at one side of the carrier member andbetween said carrier and closure members, a separate sealing washer atthe opposite side of said carrier member and adapted to engage the neckof the container, a receptacle in said carrier member for a pressurebulb, a piercing pin projecting downwardly from the closure member intothe said receptacle, a control valve mounted in said closure member andextending downwardly therefrom, passage means extending through thecarrier member for communicating the pressure from the bulb with theinteriorof the container, a spring member in said closure cap forretaining a pressure bulb in the receptacle, a dispensing valveincluding a casing mounted in said closure cap and projecting downwardlytherefrom through an opening in the carrier member, a tube dependingfrom said casing, a valve stem vertically movable in said valve casing,spring means normally urging said stem into valve closing position, anda dispensing nozzle secured to said stem and projecting upwardly fromthe closure cap in position to be thumb operated for actuating the valvestem.

3. A pressure applicator for a container having a threaded neck portionand an open mouth adjacent thereto with an annular seat surrounding saidmouth, the said applicator including a closure member having an invertedrecess therein with a threaded portion for fitting the threaded neckportion of the container, a carrier disk in said closure cap movabletowards the bottom of the inverted recess, a sealing washer below thesaid carrier disk engageable with the said seat of the container, aseparate sealing washer between the said carrier, disk and the bottom ofthe invertedrecess, a receptacle in said carrier disk to receive apressure bulb, a piercing pin projecting downwardly from the bottom ofthe recess into said receptacle, a spring member anchored on saidpiercing pin and disposed between the said receptacle and the bottom ofthe recess, the said carrier member being movable upwardly in saidrecess as the closure cap is screwed on to the neck of the containerwhereby a pressure bulb in the receptacle will beamoved into engagementwith the piercing pin and piercedthereby to permit pressure from saidbulb to escape therefrom and enter the container, a dispensing valvemounted in said closure cap and projecting downwardly through an openingin the carrier disk member,

a tube connected to said dispensing valve and depending downwardlytherefrom into the container, a valve stem vertically movable foroperating said dispensing valve, a dispensing nozzle secured to saidstem, and passages in said stem communicating with a dispensing passagein the nozzle, the said nozzle projecting above the closure cap andbeing operable with the thumb for operating the said dispensing valve.

'4. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 3 wherein the dispensingnozzle is contained within a recess in the top of the closure member andnormally projects above said closure member in position to be engagedwith the thumb of a hand holding the container.

5. A pressure applicator for a container having a threaded neck portionand an open mouth adjacent thereto, the said applicator including aclosure cap having an inverted recess therein, a tubular linerprojecting into said recess and threaded to engage the threaded portionof the said container neck, a disk-shaped carrier member sires-gasmovable vertically in said recess between the top of the tubular linerand the recess, means for preventing rotation of the carrier disk insaid recess, a sealing washer contained between the top of the tubularliner and the bottom of the carrier member, a separate sealing washercontained between the bottom of the inverted recess and the top of thecarrier member, a receptacle in the carrier member for receiving apressure bulb, a piercing pin projecting downwardly from the bottom ofthe inverted recess into said receptacle, a spring member surroundingthe said piercing pin and abutting the bottom of the inverted recess, adispensing valve mounted in the top of said closure member and dependinginto the inverted recess, the said valve extending through an opening inthe carrier member which is substantially larger than the valve toprovide a passage surrounding said valve and communicating with theportion of the inverted recess above the carrier member, and a thumbengageable operating member connected to said valve and projecting abovethe topof the closure member for operating said a dispensing valve.

6. A pressure applicator for a container having a threaded neck portionand an open mouth adjacent thereto, the said applicator including aclosure cap having an inverted recess therein with a surrounding skirthaving an outwardly extending flange along the free edge thereof, atubular liner contained within said recess and having an outwardlyextending flange engaging the flange on the skirt for securing the saidliner to the closure cap, an outwardly extending flange forming a seatat the upper end of said tubular liner spaced from the bottom of theinverted recess, a movable carrier member between said tubular liner andthe bottom of the recess, a sealing washer between the said seat and thecarrier member, a separate sealing washer between the carrier member andthe bottom of the recess, a receptacle on said carrier member forreceiving a pressure bulb, a piercing pin projecting downwardly from thebottom of the recess into said receptacle, a spring member surroundingthe piercing pin, a washer on said piercing pin between the spring andthe receptacle, a dispensing valve mounted in the closure member andprojecting vertically through the top thereof, a nozzle communicatingwith said valve, 2. tube connected to the valve and extending toadjacent the bottom of the container, and a thumb operable member foroperating said valve projecting above the top of the closure member.

7. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 6, wherein the receptacleincludes a cup-shaped portion depending from the carrier member andhaving an elongated opening through the bottom thereof and recesses insaid bottom adjacent to the said opening to receive portions of apressure tube.

8. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 6 wherein the springmember is constructed of sheet metal and is formed to provide a C-shapedloop staked on the piercing pin and contained between the bottom of theinverted recess and the washer on said pin.

9. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 6, including extensionson the spring member straddling the dispensing valve to prevent rotationof said spring member.

10. A pressure applicator for a container having a neck portion and anopen mouth adjacent thereto, the said applicator including a closure caphaving an inverted recess with a surrounding skirt, a tubular linercontained within said recess and secured to the said skirt, an annular.seat at the upper end of the tubular liner spaced from the bottom of theinverted recess, a carrier member movable between the said seat andbottom, an annular sealing washer between said seat and carrier member,a, separate annular sealing washer between said carrier member andbottom, a receptacle on said carrier member for receiving a pressurebulb, a piercing pin projecting from said bottom into the receptacle, aspring member anchored on said bottom and engageable with the pressurebulb for retairiing it" in the receptacle; a dispensing valveimounte'din"the closure member and"extending"through' the top thereof, a 'nozzleeifimufiic'anng'wnh said valve, a tube extending from the variants thecontainer, and a thumb operable member for operating saidvalve'projecting above the top'of the closure member. i V

"11. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 10, wherein thereceptacleincludesa cup-shaped portion depending from the carriermernber and the spring member extends into said receptacle." i

12. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 10, wherein thereceptacle includes a cup-shaped portion depending from the carriermember, the piercing pin ex tends downwardly through the bottom of saidreceptacle, a washer slidable on said pin and contained within saidreceptacle, and 'a spring membersurrounds the pin and is located betweenthe bottom of the inverted recess and the said washer. i V

i 13. A pressure applicator for a container having a threaded neckportion and an open mouth adjacent thereto, the said applicatorincluding a closure cap having an inverted recess therein, atubularliner projecting into said recess and threaded to engage thethreaded portion of the container neck, the said liner being spaced fromthe wall of the inverted recess and having an outwardly extending flangeat the top thereof forming a seat, an outwardly extending flange at thelower end of said liner, secured to the free edge of the surroundingwall of thesaid inverted recess, a disk-shaped carrier member having acup-shaped portion forming receptacle, a tongue on the carrier memberextending into a vertical groove in the wall o f'the inverted recess toprevent'rotation of said carrier member, the bottom of said receptaclehaving an elongated opening therein and notches adjacent the edge ofsaid opening to receive projections on a pressure bulb when insertedinto said receptacle, a piercing pin extending downwardly from thebottom of the inverted recess into the said opening in' the receptacle,a washer slidable on said pin above the bottom of the receptacle, aspring member surrounding thepin and contained between the bottom of theinverted recess and the said washer, a'sealing washer between the seatat the top of the tubular liner and the carrier member, a separatesealing washer between the top of the carrier member and the bottom ofthe inverted recess, an annular stiffening rib on said carrier membercngageable with the latter sealing washer, a. dispensing valve mountedinthe top of the closure member and extending therethrough, thesaid'valvehaving a. portion I depending therefrom into the invertedrecess and extending through an opening in the carrier member, a tubeconnectcd to said depending'portionof the valve and extending toadjacent the bottom of the container, an operating stem extendingvertically from the valve into a recess in the top of the closuremember, and a thumb operable nozzle secured to said stem and projectingabove the said recess in the top of the closure member for operating thevalve. I i i 14. A pressure applicator for a container having a neckportion; the said applicator includinga closure cap for said containerhaving a dispensing nozzle, a discharge tube depending downwardly fromthe closure cap and communicating with the nozzle, a manually operablevalve on the cap for controlling flow from the discharge tube to thenozzle, means for drawing down the cap on'the container and securing itto the neck portion, an apertured carrier plate arranged for support bythe neck portion of the container, a pressure bulb depending from thecarrier plafte'and having a princturable neck portion supported in anaperture in the carrier plate, a piercing" point fixed'on the closuresti end projecting downwardly for puncturing the nec k portion'of thepressure bulb as the cap is drawn down on the container, and means forpreventing relative'rotation of the cap and the carrier plate;

"l5."A'"prssure applicator as set forth in claim 14 wherein theverticalaxis of the piercing point and the pressure bulb is offset from thevertical axis of the container.

16. A pressure applicator for a container having a threadedneck'portion, the said applicator including a closurecap fo'rsaidcontainer having a dispensing nozzle, a discharge tube dependingdownwardly from the closure cap and communicating with the nozzle, amanually operable valve on the cap for controlling flow from thedischarge tube to the nozzle, a sleeve engaging a shoulder on the'capand threaded complementally to the threaded neck portion o'f'theontainerto draw down the cap on the container, anapertured carrier platedisposed at the neck portion of 'the'eontainer, a pressure bulbdepending from the carrier plate and" having a puncturable neck portionsupportedin an aperture in the carrier plate, a piercing point'fixed" onthe'closure cap and projecting down wardly' for puncturing the pressurebulb as the cap is drawn down'on the container, said carrier platehaving a peripheral portion engaged by the neck portion of the containerfor s upporting the carrier plate and depending pressure bulb duringpuncturing of the bulb, and means for preventing relative rotation ofthe cap and the carrier plate, said bulb being punctured solely as theresult of vertical movement of the cap relative to the carrier plate;

17. In a dispenser for flowable materials, a disposable container forthe material having a threaded neckportion, a closurec apfor thecontainer having a dispensing nozzle, a discharge tube dependingdownwardly from .the closure cap and communicating with the nozzle, 'amanuallyope'rable valve on the cap for controlling flow from thedischarge tube to the nozzle, means secured to the cap and threadablyengaging the neck portion of the container for drawing down the closurecap on the container, an apertured carrier plate extending across theneck of the container, a pressure bulb depending from the carrier plateand having a puncturable neek supp orted in an aperture in the carrierplate, a piercingpoint fixed on the closure cap and projectingdownwardly for puncturing the pressure bulb as the cap is drawn down onthe container, means on the neck of the container vertically supportingthe carrier plate, and means for maintaining the piercing point and pressure bulb in registry and preventing relative rotation of the erasure"cap and carrier plate.

18 A dispenser for flowable materials including a disposable containerfor the material to be dispensed having a threaded neck portion, aremovable dispensing head havirig'rneans to draw down the head on thethreaded neck portion of the container, a dispensing nozzle in the head,a discharge tube communicating with the nozzle and depending from thehead, a manually operable valve the head for controlling flow from thedischarge tube to the nozzle, a piercing point fixedto the head andprojecting downwardly therefrom, an apertured carrier plate between thehead and the interi or of the container, a pressure bulb depending fromthe carrier plate into the container and having a puncturable neckportion supported in an aperture in the carrier plate in alignment withthe piercing point, means on the neck portion of the container abuttingthe carrier plate and means for preventing relative rotation of thecarrier plate and dispensing head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,905,98d Jacobs Apr. 25, 1933 2, 5 47,0 5 2 Sollmann Apr/ 3, 1951

